Back from Montreal. Definitely feeling the sociopathy you get from spending every waking hour of four days with the same two people. Most of it was good, but I definitely am not meant to travel in groups. Jesus Christ. Did get a few chances to walk/drive off on my own; rediscovered how amazing city driving can be in a stick-shift; met and enthusiastically badgered a few people at my university-to-be who are in/graduated from my chosen program. Took some photos; ate some escargot; didn't speak any French. Am now determined to get tutoring here in Toronto for the next few months.

So, all that was pretty so-so. What DID I do that was worth hugs? Bought a grey men's tail coat from the 1910s, from a fripier I've been in almost every time I've been to Montreal. It is gorgeous and silly and fits me perfectly.

And, now that I'm back, I have my turntable and my vinyl collection (my mother brought them from storage). So that's what I've been doing, and will continue to do until I have to go to work and try not to kill anyone. Now playing: Supersilent 6.

@Rachael: That all sounds like good fun. I was bit worried about you after that letter, but you are a fighter on the battlefield. Fucking A!

I've spewed my mind on the Open Mic, so not much to report. Still, I had my eyes sorted today at the optical-quack-shop, and I got new specs to pick-up in a couple of weeks, so I can look all intellectual, like. All that walking barefoot through Hyde Park was great for my legs, even though I did look like some crazy hippy doing a walkabout.

Thank whatever that instigated the human experiment for giving us a sense of humour. We'd be fucked without it.

I'm doing that awful flip flop between 'life's wonderful' and 'things are a mess' today. Good friend (or so I thought) has been uncontactable for a fortnight, and I miss them :-( On the flip a new friend is... extremely... um... ;-)

And then monday is the big four zero. which I'm actually really looking forward to being, but the sodding jubillee has messed up any possibility of doing nice things, DH is working, children have scout camp...

House is a mess, and not getting better (everytime I clear something, something else is done; chucking things reveals more things; things are breaking :-( ) and I'm not getting on with the burning art things that are burning. I'm just about making my deadlines for money things, and the constant need of everyone younger or the DH everytime I start on something for me (arty, music, comedy, really really need to rehearse for the showcase is now but a fortnight away and I've yet to gig it in its entirity! argh) is really really really draining...

then the not knowing if people are just laying low or actually not OK and as I said missing them is not helping....

Last Friday that girl broke up with me. Again. Which is kind of a relief. We were like gasoline and a spark. Put us together, lots of light and heat, but apart, things got cold pretty quickly. My life is too fucking complicated to make that kind of relationship work and honestly, if I was the only one trying, I'm better off without her. There were some moments that were great for the old ego and will be riding high on those for a while, while I hunt for my next heartbreak. Last fall, I decided I wanted to try and figure out how to write a love song that wasn't trite shite, so a little romantic churn is good for the journey. I've reached the point in my life where writing angsty song after angsty song is becoming boring. Might as well challenge myself.

Also, as I write this, my mom has taken my daughter off to pick up a couple of kittens! When I get back from the chiropractor tonight, there will be two new furballs in my life. It will be rough if I do manage to move by the end of the summer since they won't be coming. My daughter will have just enough time to get attached before moving away, but I expect we'll be visiting fairly regularly since my mom is a pretty big part of her life anyway.

@Rachael - Letter. Fuck! Party. Fuck yes! Can we put together a "get Rachael to see the real Dr. House" kickstarter already? I'm not sure what the rewards would be for various contributions, but I'll pony up a few bucks.

Didn't kill anyone at work today!Did actually act very friendly-ly-ly towards all my coworkers because they are all such miserable sods. Sigh. (I just can't believe I get paid the same as these childish, unprofessional, snot-nosed bastards. Job hunt is back in full swing.)

My baby brother saved my ass a whole bunch. I forgot my phone at home. I'm camped out at a friend's house 35 miles away because I literally don't have the money to buy the gas to drive back and forth while my play goes into tech. I'm stage managing. Ergo, I *fucking* need my phone and a big time dumbass to have forgotten it. The only thing I needed more was my script. I could survive otherwise.

Anyway. BB drove the 65 miles to bring me my phone. He brought me a few other things because he's awesome, but the phone was dire.

Well finally hit 50,000 words on my novel. Just had a day's break to get some day contract work nailed, and finish a short story involving chicken skin gloves and an aviary. I've also been asked, completely out of blue, to judge a flash fiction competition for a nearby writers' circle.

It's been a bit of a trying month, but with loot of goodness that warrants concentrating on instead of the blahs. A major good thing is the new apartment, which is really the best apartment I've ever had. There are big windows that face south, but with enough trees and houses on the way that the place doesn't turn sweltering. There's a lot of light that will keep my plants alive, more space and storage space than I know what to use for, the landlady was pretty relaxed and fun, and even the next door neighbours were a friendly bunch. Apparently a lady living below me is a pretty strict case, but I'm not planning on arranging rowdy parties every weekend so I hope we'll get by. Also, the balcony <3 When I can afford it, I'll buy some vines that can take over a grille, and some patio furniture so I can have my morning coffee while enjoying the sunshine. In a week or so I can afford to move the rest of my stuff, like bookcases and such, and then I can properly relax.

I think this qualifies...Today, I married Kirsty, my beloved of 18 years (and the Other Woman in my previous weird threesome, but I knew her first). We eloped to our soon-to-be-home-town of Hebden Bridge (in theory we move there 4 weeks today). Could not be happier.